A Statement from the President of the Women's Media Center

Tomorrow, voters in Mississippi will vote on Mississippi’s proposed Amendment 26, which seeks to ban all abortions, many forms of birth control, and impact invitrofertilization technologies, by defining personhood as “every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the equivalent thereof.”

This is a political effort to deny women in Mississippi their right to choose whether and when to have a child. For the time being, the Supreme Court has held that constitutional rights do not extend to fetuses or embryos, but should the Mississippi “Personhood” amendment pass on Election Day, the Court may be forced to review this case, which brings into focus the critical importance of the 2012 presidential campaign and the appointment of justices who will uphold Roe v. Wade.

The Women’s Media Center works to make sure there is gender equality in media coverage. As the national media jump into this story, we urge them to recognize that women are disproportionately affected by this amendment and to make sure coverage of this issue includes a proportionate share of commentary by women – as subjects and as writers.